More than 24 million people in Nevada, California, and Arizona depend on the lower Colorado River to support municipal, agricultural, and industrial water and power needs for homes, farms, and industry. The river is also a literal lifeline for many species of wildlife, especially migratory neo-tropical songbirds. Major portions of the lower river are designated critical habitat for six Federally-listed species.

To protect these species and their habitat, and to enable the use of river resources to continue, the federal government, Tribes, conservation organizations, water and power users, local governments, and others in California, Arizona, and Nevada are collaborating on a program to assure that current and future river operations and maintenance activities will comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In addition, California agencies sought coverage under the California Endangered Species Act. The result is a program that anticipates potential changes on the lower Colorado River during the next 50 years, putting mechanisms in place now to meet future management challenges well in advance of any potential conflicts.

Through the program, $626 million, indexed annually, will be used to create and maintain habitat along the lower Colorado River. The Federal government will provide half of this funding, and the state and local program partners will provide the other half. In addition:

• The program will create more than 8,100 acres of new or restored cottonwood-willow, mesquite, marsh, and backwater habitat to benefit six endangered species and 20 additional species. The agreement covers a 400-mile stretch of the lower Colorado, about the same distance as New York City to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• Existing habitat will be enhanced and populations of endangered native fish augmented to ensure adequate genetic stock and numbers until a lower Colorado River recovery implementation plan is developed.

• An extensive science, monitoring, and adaptive management program will be implemented to ensure maximum benefit to the species.